Indicator for the cooling system of automobiles



NOV- 14, 1933- H. E. CHRISTIE ET AL INDICATOR FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM OF AUTOMOBILES Filed July 23. 1928 lNvENToRs Haw/,1rd 5T 7i/sila fri-Mey jfl/m BY A may ATTORNEY Patented Nov. "14, 1933 I 1 'INICATOR Y 1,935,563IA 4 1 935563 FoRj'rHE COOLING SYSTEM oF AUTOMOBILES Y Appiicatibniuly 2 3, y1923,' seriall No. y2.94.5135

' j 13 Claims. forges-"Anf This invention relates to :an indicatorv for the cooling system of zautomobiles,V being inthe na ture of an improvement upon the structure shown and described in 'pending' application.

.. contact with the upper annularfedgeof the` glass4 `V Eierial N0.197,190, filed June 7th, 1927.3

.AS particular object of' `the .present .improve-- ment is to provide a. simplied and eni'cient'ina.:

dicator which will be'thoroughly. practical in Yoperation and which "may be' manuiacturedat I i lowcost.-V Other objects and aims of the invention', V`more orrlessmspecic thanthose referred to above,V will beV in part obviousnand in part pointed. outV inthe course of the followingdescription of the elements,v combinations, arrangements. rof .parts and applications of principleswconstituting the invention; andthe scope of protectioncontemplated will `be indicated in the appended claims.`^l

In the accompanying .drawing which is'to be taken'as a part of this Yspecification, land in which fwe have lshown merely av preferred "form 1 of i embodiment of the invention,v rthere is villustrateda vertical `sectional view throughan in' dicaton'constructe'd in accordanceiwi'thy this inferencecharacter .Li-indicates a partl of vthe cool ing system. of.an automobile engine, as'forin'- stance theexibleconnecting hose orpipe whichlis l.usually employed `extending between" the upper part ofthe engineand'theupper part of .an automobile radiator. j The indicator-device shown .comprises a body member G which Ahas a vertical annular central bore A1 arranged to accommodate the hydrometer float-H so that said floatzis. free "to move vertically therein. f 1 The. body G is preferably formed of Vmetal and the interior wall surface of the-b'orefl' thereof is smooth and even throughout so Vthat' the float Hmayzhave uninterrupted vertical movement,r

the oat being provided with `an upper set of. pointed projections `2'-2 thereon. and a. .flower set 'of projections. as.' 3-3fadapted to'havefappropriate contact with'the smooth metallic vsur-1 face'offthe bore 1 tothereby maintainthe float" in substantially vertical alignment'with .the bore at allV times. f' Y Resting within an `upper annular. shoulder as*r- 4 of the body G is a gasket''uponwhichrests in turnthe ylower end oiga transparent glass tube 6. Thegupper portion of the 4body continues 'up'- vAv spring'fly is arranged' for holding thevalve norf mally Youtwardly-againstits vseat 19;.and a iinger piece 20 projects outwardly from the valve, being wardlyvabout the glass tube 6 and Vis threaded`r ext'eriorlyl asv at17 at -its upper end adapted'to receiveV aA metallic capasv 8- thereon,l said cap carrying" axgasket 9 vat its' interior resting in tube so.V thatl when *theV cap is screwedztightly home it ywill clamp the glass tube between the ends of. the glasstub'eL Y -Asuitable-windw as 10 is provided vat lone'side of the body'througl which the' glass'tube and its contents may be inspectedvatfany time; v

. Anopening as '11 is provided through the wal of the bodyandcommunicating with'the interior of the hoseL, through suitable'couplingmeans as 12,-so.thatf-1luid from.within^the hose may move intofthe interior vof the bore'foriloating the hydrome'ter,l` and backwardly'into the hose as hereinafter 'referred' to. l

1 Within' thev'bore 1k is arrangedv a.'v piston lvalve 13 wherewith the opening 1'1 may beopened or closed'atwill..

'As aV convenientzmeans 'of manipulating the valveV a rstem as'14 is providedthereon extending. ydownwardly'to a point of access beneath -the lower vendtoflthe body,.beingY there provided vwith f @i/.Vl

gaskets 5 .and 9 thus. completely closingfboth a a suitable handle as 15 by which the valve mayvr Y be slid up and down Lwithin .the bore at the :will of the operator.f"f "I j f Adjacent the gasket'5 an opening as21`6 is provided.` into' Ithe, interiorfof the'gbody,A vand glass VtubeS. This opening is controlled by a manu'-v ally-operablevalve 17-which is normally closed.

of 'less' diameter' than the opening 21 through which` itr projects,k sopthatv .when thel valve is `pressed inwardlybyan operatorsnnger against the outer end of-part 20, air from within the body-G' maymove freely outwardly through the openings 16 and 21 to acilitatethe entr-y of fluid from the hose L.

AWhen the uid .moving vinwardly from the hose" and rising within v.the body` has -reached a llevel shuting off the opening -16 its rise within the glass tube will' behaltedfowin'g to thefsealed characterof said tube'. The locationvof the open-V ing 16 will thus automatically determine the workingbr readingl level of the Huid within the device. f f

.A small quantity of thefui'd may-'perhaps will. serve asuapositive informant-'to the operator'. thatthe'maximum or readingflevel ofthe fluid -iiow'through'- the openings Y16 and 2l, and this vir,

has been attained, whereupon he will release the valve 20 and proceed to read the hydrometer which will be at that time floating in a readable position upon the fluid. Y

By moving the valve 13 to close the opening 11 the fluid within the body G will be permanently retained-f If :the:fluidwithinsthe body lis stale onforgany reasonmot suchl Lasto admi-t of,

a proper reading, it may be renewed by simply pumping up and down by means of the valve and its handle until the fluid has been exchanged by; vthe type set forth, said indicator device comprisa new supply from the hose,` it .beingnhere .noted that with each downward movement oftheyalye `a partial vacuum will be created above the level within the glass tube and causata small-quan;w

tity of fluid to move inwardly from the hosegas soon as the opening 11 is uncoveredand thatu likewise each upward movement yofthe ivalveewill' ing a hydrometer oatLa hollow casing for con- ;V tainingpaldoat,means by which the casing may be operatively connected with the cooling system,

saidfmeansgproviding an opening through which cooling fluid from the system may move between the .system and the casing, and a piston mounted to slide within the casing for producing movement tend to produce compression above thellevelgandgof theyfluidback and forth through said opening.

outwardly throughrthe. opening @11;

The .body G -issufficiently VVelongated. below the r:

openingll .so Ithat the ,Naive is. capable l olf-conisiderable .pistoni movement; below r theglevelV of` the opening 11, thus,toifa'cilitateithe inf-flowanddisf.

charge of appreciable ,quantities -.of ;f1uid;;upon occasion;,

' Or. ifgdesired theflud-within theibody, Gf mayj be entirely removed at any-timeii-mpl-yby'unr.

. screwing the .cover oricap 8 fand.y eithendrawingoff-the ffluidor: tipping the, body Yso that. .the fluide will flow out,;throughzthe. openuppereencl.` The valve will .'of,-,course-intl Ethispevent` sbapositioned tofcloseithe;opening11.f AIn -somecasesai thor-f oughvllusIni-ngv i ofthe.; interior;ofi-the.,- casing :may-

the watenlfromfthe.icoolingisystem.willtrushinto, and overflow the casing'. Thisrrushfof fluidimay.

be `stopped. .at .anytime lbyfsiinnply returning the Distonfftorclose the-,openingsl 1,;

Here it may be mentioned that any .surplus tlid accumulated.Withimtheicasingrat. any-time,

either While thecover 9 ision or .ofgwmaybe Nuthe-. 'drewnbyesimply holding thewalve-l' @pen-until the vsurplus fluid chas;A ,-ldribbled ioff 'fz/through ithe..

IfftheJ/alvevl 'If :beheldopen ,to permit; discharge..4 of fluid at a time while the valvet 13fisin opens position the message; ofr .uid through; the. ,casing willresult;inmenewalofithe/uid.contentsiofithe Casing .atany time The.-.Sea1t. l9 ifor .thevalye memberf ;1'Z'may be..` provided lin any gappropriateniannen but fon cori-fj., r veniene and.eiiiciency'itiis,preferably madeup F :0f` 2Lf.separatelyformedr member 22fof oft rubber; which isaheldeinwposition, by.

provided to. .receiveitfuponthetbody.:.

As many changes -could befsnadeain,1 thisi AconfS Stl'fllC'QQicWlhQlllf. departing 1from. thee scopey L ofcr the-invention;as denedfinltheifoiiowmgfciaimsg it is intended that all matter containedfin the, abGYe. descriptionfOlShown-,imtheaccompanying drowns Shelli-ib@ interpreted;asillustrative .only

inra limiting sense.:-` v

I-@An indieatfrf deviefifor a :cooling systemifof.

g1g-thus.; described.puninyention, -..what-we.-

3. An indicator device for a cooling system of the'ftype set '-:forthg said-indicator .devicefcomprisj ingf a :hydrometer float-,1y ahollowvcasing. 'fforf :con- L t taining saidffloatfmeans .bywhich the casingmay; beioperativelyiconneetediwithrthescoolingsysternf said meanspmvidingan openingithroughwhich:- v coolingiluidffronithesystemmay movelbetween theley-stem,and.I thefcasing; ai. pistonfmountedto slide v:withini,; the.;ca ieing forsproducing.movementf of;theffluidfbacksandviforthithrough ysaid opening said piston arranged to serve asl a valve for..con,.-105

trollingaidopening. l g 4.. An indicatorA =device forz aacoolingosystem. ofi the ,type .set e forth, said A'indicator -device comprise:l ingaihydrometer ,floatya hollow casingfor -.-con-.1

taining saidiioat,:means7 by whichthe .casingmayqlg be, l, Abrought about; :by simply moving i thefpiston, downwardly itoi-unooverathe.. opening. 11- iso. that.:

be.: Operatively connected with; the.coolingpsystemi: said-meanstproviding ,ani openingf thr.ough:-which. coolingguidromthe systemimay. move-between.; the systemyand the casngsthefupper..portionfof the Casing.beingairtighteand therebeing an pem .11,5 ingieqmmiinoating with the interiorof. the casing e atapproximately AYthe .desired .'fluidlevel: saidlopen-i. inge C Qlldillgfdownwardly'fromsaidleveltotheref byisconstitut amoverow-bygravity for,nuidrromv-L` withimthexasing. Y. 1 f 12o 5, An indicator-device for acoolingsystem off' the type set forth, said indicator,fdevieecomprisl,V ing axhydrometer float,".a.hollow casingfforrcontaining, .:.Saidr;oat,. means... .by :which: the, casing.- may-.bes operatively connected i .with the cooling :125 J systemisaid meansprovdingan openingthrough'.V whichycooli-ng; fluid from. the system :may move betweenl thee system aand,A the i casing-,- the .upper portion.- of; 'kthgep casing` beingfhairn tightiands there being an opening communicating.fwithi-theelg() interiolsofthe casing at. approximately the .desired fluid;zlevel;saldiopening,extending:from said level i into `rconFiInu-riicationwth ithe outer atmosphere so s as-to constitutean overflow by vgravity.ffoizuid-i from within the casing, together vvithamanually operablefvalye rcontriollingfsaid, overflow opening.

6.;1A.1,1 indicator, device @for a cooling .system ofc; i the-,typeLset-fQrth, said indicator device compris-1,vk ing .,a hydrometer float, a .hollow'icasing :formons-1V taining saidlfloatfmeans bywhich the casingmay. be operatively connectedwith the cooling system; said', means providing ,an opening. Athrough which cooling fluid `fromthe. system ,may move betweenthetsystem andthe casing, `the `upper portions-of..

the-casing being airi'tight and there being an opene `ille ing communicating with the interior of the cas-f. ing at-.approximately thefdesiredziluid level'fsaid openingzextending fromsaid levelinto communie cation .with fthe.l ,outer atmosphere. so as' to :consti-i l tute; an. overflow by/ gravity vfor' fluid from'ivvithinil50` the casing, together with a valve for controlling said overflow opening said valve including apart holding it normallyl closed but being yieldable by manual pressure to open the valve.

7. An indicator device for a cooling system of the type set forth said indicator device comprising a hydrometer float, a hollow casing for containing said oat, means by which the casing may be 'operatively connected with the cooling system, a piston, the casing being shaped toconstitute a cylinder within which the piston is freely slidable and having an opening thereinto controlled by said piston said opening providing for communication between the system and the interior of the casing, and said piston constituting a bottom wall for said casing beneath the hydrometer float. v

8. An indicator device for a cooling system of the type set forth, said indicator device comprising a cylindrical metallic body portion and a cylindrical upper portion of glass, a hydrometer float positioned Within said body portion and projecting upwardly .therefrom into said glass portion, the body portion having an opening therethrough through which fluid from the cooling systern may enter said body portion to float the hydrometer float, the lower end of the glass portion being approximately at the desired fluid level, and the body portion having an opening communieating with the interior of the device at approximately said level and extending from said level so as to constitute an overflow for fluid from within the device.

9. An indicator device for a'cooling system of the type set forth, said indicator device comprising a cylindrical metallic body portion and a cylindrical upper portion of glass; a hydrometer float positioned within said body portion and projecting upwardly therefrom into said glass portion, the body portion having an'opening therethrough through which iiuid from the cooling sys- Vtem may enter said body portion to float the hydrometer float, the lower end Aof the glass portion being approximately at the desired fluid level, the body portion having an opening therethrough communicating with the interior of said glass portion at approximately said level and extending downwardly from said level into communication with the outer atmosphere to thereby constitute an overow for fluid from within the device, the upper end of said glass portion being air tight, and a manually operable valvev forcontrolling said overowopening. n l

10. An indicator device for a cooling system of the type set forth, said indicator device cornprising a hollow base part having a transparent tube extending therefrom and forming therewith a float chamber, a hydrometer float arranged within said chamber having at least its readable part positioned within said tube, said chamberl having an opening formed through the wall thereof communicating with the interior thereof at approximately the desired artificial fluid level, andy a manually operable valve arranged in said opening for controlling said opening, said opening and said valve constituting means cov operative in the structure to loreatepan artificial fluid level within the chamber for the operation of the hydrometer float.

11. An indicator device for a cooling system of the type set forth, said indicator device com-' t prising a hollow base part having a transparent tube extending therefrom and forming therewith a float chamber, a hydrometer iloat varranged within said chamber having at least its Areadable part positioned ,within said tube, said chamber having an opening formed through the 4Wall 1 thereof communicating'with the,A interior thereof at approximately the desired artificial fluid level, a manually operable valve arranged in saidr opening` for controlling said opening, said opening and said valver constituting means co-operative in the structure to create an artificial fluid level vwithin the' chamber for the operation of the hydrometer float, and said base part having a portion extending` therefrom constituting a shield -about the transparent tube but formed with a window therethrough through whichl the hydrometer float is visiblel within lthe tube.

12. An indicator device for a cooling system of the type set forth, said indicator rdevice [comprising a hydrometer float, a hollow casingfor containing said float, said casing having a transparent portion through which the float is visif ble, means by which the casing may be operatively connected with the cooling system, a piston, the lcasing being shaped to constitute a` cylinder within which the piston is freely slidable and having an opening trough-the side wall thereof through which cooling fluid fromythe system may move between the system andthe casing, and

the piston being slidable to cover and uncover said opening.

13. An. indicator device for a cooling system of the type setforth, said indicator device comprising a hydrometer float, ahollow casing for containing said hydrometer float, means by which said casing may be operatively connected with the cooling system, said means rproviding 1 an,v opening through which coolingv fluidv from the system may move between the system and the casing, and manually operable means to control Asaid opening and vto cause movement of fluid* back and forth through lsaid opening. HOWARD E. CHRISTIE.

KIBBEY W. COUSE. 

